Shun Babblings

“But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus.”  2 Timothy 2:16-17

Paul’s earlier warning about “word fights” (2 Tim. 2:14) is strengthened in the text above with a different emphasis. Word fights are “picky” debates started by quarrelsome people. They are useless and devise. They create conflicts and schisms.

Profane and vain babblings, however, are worldly and valueless “noise.” Less obvious and more subtle than fighting, they have the effect of destroying godliness. “But have nothing to do with worldly [ungodly] fables [myths, baseless stories] fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Tim. 4:7).

Because “godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8), Paul strongly urged Timothy to “guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter [babble] and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’ — which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith” (1 Tim. 6:20-21). The “oppositions” spoken of are the “antitheses” - the conflict, the stand against knowledge, a “pseudonym” - a false name. It sounds like knowledge, but is not true.

The results of these “babblings” are not good. Ungodliness will increase. Error will eat away at spiritual health and truth like gangrene. The two church leaders that Paul mentions, Hymenaeus and Philetus, are listed as examples of such a cancer. They taught that the resurrection had already occurred for the saints.

Peter’s warning is very similar: “be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).